Arch supporting shoe



Feb. 27, 1934. A. YOUNG 1,948,638

ARCH SUPPCRTING SHOE Filed Nov. 2, 1932 Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjustable arch supporting shoe and has for its object to provide a device of the character mentioned which will be built into and form a part of the structure of the shoe and which may be adjusted as may be desired from the exterior of the shoe to conform to the arch portion of the foot of the wearer without it being necessary to remove the shoe from the foot or interfere with the structure of 110 the shoe in any way.

The invention consists in an improved. adjustable arch support for shoes as set forth in the following specification and particularly as pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawing:-

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of a shoe and adjustable arch support therefor embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail transverse section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail transverse section similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modified embodiment of my invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

In the drawing, 5 represents a shoe embodying therein an outer sole 6 and an inner sole 7. Resting upon the upper surface of the outer sole 6 is a shank plate 8, preferably constructed of steel, and secured at its opposite end portions to the sole 6 by means of suitable fastening means 9.

Mounted at an intermediate point upon the shank plate 8 and projecting downwardly therethrough and also through the outer sole 6 is a sleeve 10 embodying therein a flange 11 which rests upon the upper surface of the plate 8. A nut 12 has screw-threaded engagement with the periphery of the sleeve 10 at its lower extremity; and said sleeve, shank plate and outer sole are all clamped securely one to another by means of said nut. The sleeve 10 is threaded to receive a screw 13 which projects upwardly therethrough and the upper extremity of said screw abuts against the under surface of an arch supporting plate 14 which is located within the shoe beneath the inner sole 7. The plate 14 is constructed of soft steel, or other suitable material, and is shaped either right or left to fit right or left shoes, and said plate may be formed of any suitable outline that may be desired to fit the arch portion of the foot. The plate 14 is secured at a point adjacent to its rear end to the heel portion of the inner sole '7 by means of a suitable fastening member 15.

In fitting the device of this invention to the foot of the wearer all that is necessary is to apply a screw driver to the slotted lower end of the screw 13 and the latter is either raised or lowered as required, to either raise or lower the arch supporting plate 14. It is evident that a proper adjustment of the arch supporting plate 14 may be obtained without it being necessary for the wearer to remove the shoe from the foot or to disturb the structure of said shoe in any manner, it being evident that the wearer may easily raise 85 or lower the arch supporting plate 14 at any time to obtain the necessary comfort or support for the arch of the foot by rotating the screw 13 in the proper direction.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated .a modified embodiment of my invention in which the intermediate portion of the shank plate 8 is reinforced by means of a sleeve 16 having a flange 17 embodied therein which is secured to the upper surface of said plate at 18 by welding or other suitable means, in order that said sleeve may be firmly secured to said plate. The sleeve 16 extends downwardly through the plate and through the outer sole 6 to provide a suitable support for the adjusting screw 13, but no means is provided at 30 the bottom of said sleeve for clamping the shank plate 8 to the outer sole 6. In this form of my invention the arch supporting plate 14 is raised and lowered to vary the height of said plate by adjusting the position of the screw 13 in exactly 35 the same manner as hereinbefore mentioned in connection with the form of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

It is evident that if it is so desired the position of the sleeve 10 upon the outer sole 6 may be 0 reversed, at which time the flange 11 will be located beneath the sole 6 and the nut 12 above the shank plate 8. It is also evident that when the sleeve 10 and nut 12 are utilized that the shank plate 8 will be securely clamped to the outer sole by these members and the fastening members 9 may be eliminated if it is so desired.

It is preferable, however, that the fastening meirTbers 9 shall be utilized as they function to correctly position the shank plate 8 upon the outer sole in the event of the sleeve and nut becoming loosened.

I claim:

1. An arch supporting shoe comprising, in combination, an outer sole, a shank plate fast at its opposite ends to the upper surface of said sole,

a sleeve mounted upon said plate and projecting through said sole, a nut engaging said sleeve and clamping the plate to the sole, an inner sole, an arch supporting plate fast to the under side of sleeve beneath the sole and rigidly clamping the plate, sole and sleeve together, an inner sole, an arch supporting plate fast at one end thereof to the under side of said inner sole, and a screw adjustable in said sleeve and adapted to engage the under surface of said arch supporting plate.

ALFRED YOUNG. 

